Know your “type” or throw money out the door!

[Top Headshot Photographers, by Vanie]

A while back, while perusing Backstage,

I stumbled upon an article on “How to find your Type and Book Work,” written by acting coach Carolyne Barry.

I don’t know Carolyne but her advice column was almost word-for-word what I tell actors to do to find their type in preparation for their headshot session… to actually book work.

Christy Rae Nunn: Wholesome Girl Next Door / Quirky Grad Student

Arnell Powell: Edgy Detective / Young Dad

Antonio Laudadio: Urban Love Interest / Rachel Li: Best Friend

All too often, an actor just getting their feet wet in the business will email me for headshots and not have a clue how to answer my first question.

“What looks are you going for?” 🎯

IF YOU HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT what your age range is and what your type is before taking your headshots, then you might as well be throwing money out the door 💸, because THIS is the key to getting in the door.

Casting directors aren’t looking for just an actor. They’re looking for an actor who looks like a specific type, a character. One who can effectively play that role.

Mia: Kid Headshot

Hyelim Kang: Young Mom / Illiana Nuñez: Business Professional

IF YOU SHOW UP TO A SESSION without a plan to specifically target the “types” you can play, you’re going to end up with “generic” shots. And in this industry, generic is invisible.

How do you know what your types are and get auditions? 🤔

1. Figure out what age range you fall into: What age range are you realistically able to portray on film, NOT on stage (that’s different). Keep your age group to a 7 year range maximum. Anything larger is throwing spaghetti on the wall. Then look at the roles in that age group both in shows and in commercials. Those are the types you should shoot.

2. Figure out what your look and essence support: Part of marketing yourself has to do with your physical appearance but that’s not all. Your essence, your personality, your vibe ultimately shapes the roles you convincingly play. So once you settle on your age group and types, you do have to be honest with yourself and make sure your look and essence can support that type.

Dawn Doherty: Judge / Marco Naggar: Edgy Bad Boy

Deborah Pollack: Edgy Detective

In other words, if you look like a vixen on camera but you have a mousy voice with a bubbly personality, you’re likely not going to be cast as the femme fatale.

Make sense?

I’ve spent 26 years seeing “type” requests from agents when they send clients my way, so if you don’t have an acting coach or an agent giving you these notes yet, I’m happy to “stereotype” you based on my experience.

During our clothing and look consult, I can usually see where an actor fits in the market within a few seconds of meeting them. ⚡

For some tips, take a look at the different marketing types labeled below each picture in the blog.

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Amy Benedict: Wholesome Mom / Substance Abuser

Grace Park: Edgy Bad Girl / Kisha Lockett: Sexy Vixen

Wanru Tseng: Best Friend / Bill Applebaum: Funny Office

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I love helping you by putting out this free information (often written on weekends and evenings) so please help me spread the word by commenting and or sharing this post on your social feed! 🙏